It really has lost something I think, although I always preferred Red. The amount of space they devote to this school run thing is astounding. Do Mums really spend all that time agonising over what they wear on the school run. When I am in work, I obviously drop off in work clothes and when I am home, its generally verryyy casual, I just dont get it

I haven't seen the most recent issue as I get it as a hand me down, but yes, the previous 2 have been ridiculous. I have taught for years in many different cities, and now am on the other side of the gates but I have never witnessed women rolling up in Prada or anything similar and they are alienating a lot of their readership presenting this as an interesting or relevant feature. Mostly I am trying to get to the school having removed yesterday's knickers from the inside of my jeans.

Give them credit - it's a little bit tongue in cheek: it's aimed at women of my generation, who remember i-D taking snaps of people in the street and itemising what they're wearing. Or going back a bit further: all those "vox pops" local newspapers used to fill white space with. on-line mags (I believe) still do this.

It's a sort of "real people's fashion" bit. Surely that's a good thing? Or am I missing something?

And I rather like the pictures of other mothers. On a purely human level, I just like having a nosey at other people, and making up stories about how they live.

snapsnap i prefer Red too. Its my favourite.Easy Living used to be ok but i dont like the new style of it either.And the School Runway feature just makes women feel more pressured. Its the sort of feature i would have expected to see in the Daily Mail.

In our Primary days - thankfully now long past - there was one woman who was the most arresting fashion victim I have ever seen. Ever. Then or since. How we laughed! In a whole school career she's the only one I recall so it really can't be that common!

... you lot are hard to please, though. How could you not love the mother in the sequin jacket this month? I loved her. I'll give my heart to anyone who stands in front of the window, cup of tea in hand, at 8.30 a.m., and says: "Today is a day that will be all the better with a few sequins."

Is it as laughable as the i fashion feature where they take a selection of random 'man/woman in the street' from a city centre and give a rundown of their outfit? Only without fail they are all uber-hip, achingly trendy Fucking Hipsters with trilby hats, brogues with no socks, rolled up orange jeans and a rank sports jacket. There are plenty of different vibrant interesting styles out there but i seems to have a boner for hipster 'chic'.

I don't think it is, though, snapsnap. The feature is folded away inside a women's magazine, so I think those who might be vulnerable to such pressure are shielded + I suspect Easy Living readers are towards the older end of the spectrum and probably not very susceptible at all.

Seriously, did you see that feature and think "OMG - I must dress up for school!!!!" I'm guessing no.

Four seconds in a school playground will disabuse anyone of the notion that getting dressed up for a school run is compulsory.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Those of us who have kept the joy of the dressing-up box since childhood alive in our hearts often find that adult play in the realm of clothes is, actually, quite frowned upon.

Lastly, I'd say that the economic climate ahead is going to knock the stuffing out of ostentatious "wealth" dressing. Though I would say that I don't think that feature is about that, so much, rather than (I think) being about women who enjoy clothes (of all income brackets) and also happen to be mothers.

Used to love Easy Living but I've cancelled my subscription since the format changed. Its totally turned me off- yet another sensible women's glossy becomes obsessed with fashion, what the latest thing you need to buy is, and distressingly, what cosmetic surgery is a 'must have'.Sigh

Old EL was very samey each issue,but it was different to other mags on the market. New EL just seems quite superficial. It's obviously trying to be younger and trendier, but I think people liked it because it was more real. They have cut all their books stuff, which I used to enjoy.

The women in the pictures linked are hardly dressed to the nines or being OTT, just dressed from what I can see, and on the whole looking pretty sensible and stylish. The only one I think is a bit over dressed is her in the cream mini dress and fur coat thing. My school isn't in a fancy area, far from it, and I'd say 80% of the mothers in the morning manage to look put together and decent. The ones that don't, never do if that makes sense.

Why is there all this scorn for people who don't do the school run looking like worzel gumadge?